Politics
Congressmen blame Abramoff for mixup on trips


Two Republican Congressmen who went on overseas junkets with Jack Abramoff say they were misled by the disgraced lobbyist.

Reps. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Tom Feeney (R-Florida) filed disclosure forms with the House indicating that the National Center for Public Policy Research paid for the trips, which included a visit to a golf course in Scotland.

But the center adamantly denied picking up the tab, leading to the conclusion that Abramoff paid the bill. That would be a potential violation of House rules.

Ney and Feeney both say they were told by Abramoff that the trips were financed by the center. Ney said he will talk to the House Ethics Committee. Feeney said he's been assured by the panel that he did nothing wrong.

Abramoff tried to get tribes to pay for the trips, saying they would influence people like House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), a golf enthusiast.

Get the Story:
Ney reiterates he'll talk to ethics panel (The Columbus Dispatch 3/10)
Feeney reassured by House ethics panel (The Hill 3/10)
Policy Group Denies Paying for Golf Trips (AP 3/10)

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